Welding apparatus



Sept. 24, 1940. A. M. FLEMING ET AL WELDING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 M \nw\ Wk m m m E /E N 8v MM MM a EA T w NLN T IFALMA 00 N I. mm J ARM. B

9 Sheets-Sheet 2 I1 lllfi la/ll m o s. O I 2 o M a INVENTOR FLEMING a OWN/71.58

, {v.1 aw ww a ATTORNEY Sept. 24, 1940. A. M. FLEMING ET AL WELDING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1958 ALEXANDER M. ANTONIO s. g, A 6'9 p 1940- A. M. FLEMING -r AL WELDING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 I V NDER M. isfi lw m By TON/0 A TTORNE Y5.

ALEXA Sept. 24, 1940.

A. M. FLEMING El AL 2,215,693

WELDING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 16, 1938 INVENTOR ALEXA/V05 FLE/M y A Q/V/O [Ill-Illll'lllll lillllll'llll II A TTORNEY5.

Sept. 24, 1940.

A. M. FLEMING ET AL 15,

WELDING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 A 2 ALEXA/V051? M. FLBId/NGANO BY ANTON/0 B. OWN/41 58 Sept. 24, 940- A. M. FLEMING Er AL 2,215,693-

WELDING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1938 9 Sheets- Sheet 6 m 6 s Wu WW5 N EM m VEM T. an a NN M Sept. 24, 1940. A. M. FLEMING ET AL 2,215,693

WELDING APPARATUS Filed July 1a, 1938 s: Sheets-Sheet 'r man p 1940. A. M. FLEMING E! AL, 2,215,693

WELDING APPARATUS Filed July 16. 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR FLEM ING-M ALEXANDER M.

- z A mz K M fiTOR/VE Y5.

Sept. 24, 1940. A. M. FLEMING El AL 2,215,693

WELDING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 sgmgg A T T ORNE Y5.

Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKIE WELDING APPARATUS Application July 16, 1938, Serial No. 219,500

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improved welding apparatus.

More particularly, the invention pertains to automatic welding apparatus for welding together two or more vehicle body parts, or two or more metal members.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide an improved welding apparatus of this character by which the roof member of a vehicle body and the side members thereof may be simultaneously and automatically welded.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this kind which automatically and simultaneously welds the roof and side members of a vehicle body together at a predetermined series of points along successive curvilinear -portions of the vehicle body members, and then automatically welds intermediate each of the welds of the first mentioned series of points of welding-this apparatus automatically effecting each weld by moving a welding gun carrying carriage to a predetermined welding position, forcefully engaging the work, effecting the weld, and releasing the work and moving the carriage to the .3 next predetermined welding position.

Additional objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus of this character which automatically moves through the medium of a suitable source of power a welder to a predetermined :n series of points and then automatically adjusts the indexing mechanism of the welder and reverses the direction of the rotation of the aforesaid power source to move the welder over the same course to points intermediate the first mentioned series of points, and returns the welder to its original starting position and stops the rotation of the aforesaid power source after the welder indexing mechanism has been adjusted to permit the same initial movement of the welder with respect to the new work after the welded body has been unloaded; to provide in apparatus of this kind an indexing mechanism for automatically effecting the welds at a predetermined series of points and then efiecting welds intermediate each of the first mentioned series of points; to provide apparatus of this kind that welds in ,a congested space entirely within the vehicle body and which therefore does not deface the outside of the vehicle body with welding and clamping marks; to provide apparatus of this character which automatically moves the welding gun carrying carriage along a track to bring the welding gun into welding receiving relationship with the vehicle body members and then returns the carriage over the same route and smoothly the line 55 of Fig. 2.

brakes the movement of the carriage at the end of its aforesaid trip.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a roof body welding apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a one-half plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front end elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, sectional view taken approximately as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional view taken along Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and showing a portion of the indexing mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken approximately as indicated by the line l-| of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 5 and showing a portion of the indexing, and control mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the carriage at its starting position, and the control mechanism therefor.

Fig. 10 is a partial elevational view, partly in section, of the carriage reversing and carriage cushioning mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken approximately as indicated by the line lI-li of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a vertical detail elevational view, partly in section, of the carriage reversing control mechanism, the section being taken along the line l2-l2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view taken along the line "-44 of Fig. 9 with the mechanism illustrated in its condition after the carriage has moved one-half of its cycle.

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view taken approximately as indicated by the line I5-l5 of Fi 16.

Fig. 16 is a detail elevational view taken along the line |6l6 of Fig. 1, showing a portion of the manual control.

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical system for controlling and operating the apparatus.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the improved welding apparatus comprises a base structure. generally indicated by the numeral 2|, which supports the drip-moulding equipped top and side members 2|, 22 and 22 respectively of a sedan style vehicle body to be welded along the edges 2| and 01' the side members 22 and 23 having successive longitudinally misaligned portions. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention we prefer to show the welding apparatus operating upon automobile bodies, but attention is directed to the fact that other members of regular and irregular surface contour may be so treated with a bonding or welding device without departing from the scope of the invention. I

The base structure 2| comprises a pair of arch-like members 25 and 21 between which the vehicle body is positioned, and further comprises outwardly projecting angle extensions 25, and reinforcing members 2! and II disposed between the arches 25 and 21. Each of the arches 25 and 21 comprises standards 3| with braces 32, and an upper member 32 having formed thereon an internal rack portion 24 and a grooved trackway having successive longitudinally misaligned portions which are uniformly spaced from the edges 24 and 25 of the vehicle side members 22 and 22 when these body members and the welding apparatus are placed in welding receiving relationship. Suitable clamping members, such as that generally indicated at it on the extensions 2l,'are preferably provided to support and clamp the body members 2| to 23 so that these members are properly positioned to be automatically welded together.

A carriage or traveler, generally indicated by the numeral 27, is mounted on the stationary base trackway 35 for controlled movement longitudinally of the vehicle body and relative thereto. The carriage 51 comprises a pair of slidably connected extensible bars 22 and 3! slidably mounted in a driving mechanism support split casing II, the bar 15 being slotted at 4| to clear certain members as will presently be set forth. Provided on the outer extremities of the bars 38 and 2! are spaced bearings having aligned passages II" which are joined by a passage and. connecting opening formed in the outer end portions oi the extensible bars. Gibs 42 are receivable by the beveled faces of the bars 35 and 22 within the casing ll, and adiustment bolts l2 carried by the casing ll provide a means for eliminating undesirable excessive clearances caused by wear between the extensions and the casing. Each of the extensible bars 32 and 22 has fixed thereto by a round-head bolt and nut 44 a guide block 45, the head of the bolt 44 mounting a roller 45 reoeivable by the groove in the trackway 35. Maximum relative movement of the extensions 32 and I! is permitted by the nut 44 being received within the slot 4| oi the extension 38. The guide block I! carries threaded pins 41 each of which rotatably supports a roller 48 adapted to support the carriage I! on the upperportion oi the trackwayll. Thisguideblockllanditsbearingli iollowthegroovedtrackwaytomove the extensions .28 and." inwardly or outwardly relative toeachotherinacoordancewiththe variations in longitudinally misaligned portions of the trackway corresponding to the curvative body edges 2| and 25.

Ashiiterrail II is slidablymounted inthepassageu'oitheouterendportionoieachofthe extensiblebarslland" (bestshowninl'ig. 9)

andisadaptedtomovetransverselyofthepaths ofthesebara. Therailllcomprisesapairotreoesaesuandaseduoialianeddctentm 52, 54, and 56, and an elongated slot 51. A

cylinder head casing support shifter rail 55 is slidably mounted in the bearing opening of the outer end portions of the extensible bars II and 29. The rail 58 comprises reduced extremities 59 and 60, and has annular grooves 6| and 52 formed in its end portions. Ball detents are disposed within the connecting openings 40 of the end portions of each of the extensible bars 38 and 3! to selectively register with the grooves 52, I, 52, i3 and 64 of the rails 5| and 58 under such conditions as will hereinafter be more apparent. Spring detents 61 (best shown in Fig. 4) are carried by the end portions of each of the bars 32 and 39 to yieldingly register with one of the recesses 53 to 56 of the rail 5| and are shown in Fig. 9 as registering with the recesses 53.

Welding guns, generally indicated by the numerals N and 69, are mounted at the outer extremity of the bars 38 and 39 respectively adjacent the registering edges of the vehicle body members 2| to 23 to be automatically welded. These guns comprises. cylinder head casing 10 having an extension 1| with a. slotted portion 12 non-rotatably secured to the rail 58 by which they are pivotally supported. The extension 1| is interposed between the bearing portions of the associated extensible bar and is sufllciently smaller than the space between the hearings to accommodate transverse movement of the rail 55 and welding gun relative to the bars. The extension 1| has the slotted portion 12 in which a portion of the rail 5| is received. The rail 5| engages a side of the slot 12 to prevent downward swinging of the gun beyond a predetermined position.

An electrode mounting member 13 carries a welding electrode or welding point II, and an arm 15 and is pivotally mounted by a threaded pin 1 on the casing 10. A yoke shaped electrode carrying member" having a welding electrode or welding point 18 and arm 19 is pivotally mounted on the pin 16 so that the electrodes I4 and II will contact opposite sides of theparts to be welded together. Any irregularities in the edges of the vehicle body members to be welded will be accommodated by pivotal movement of the gun relative to the bar. Each of the arms 15 has pivotally connected thereto a pair of links II which are pivotally connected together at II on a gun actuating piston rod 82. This piston rod 82 is secured to a piston 53 (best shown in,

Fig. 4) reciprocable within a cylinder casing I4 fixed to the casing 15 and having fluid pressure inlet members 55 and 86 receiving fluid pressure lines 81 and II respectively. Fluid pressure, preferably air pressure, is admitted through the line 51 to force the piston 83 downwardly to move the electrodes 14 and 18 apart. When fluid pressure is admitted through the line II the piston II is urged upwardly to move the arms 15 and 19 apart to clamp the electrodes with the desired clamping pressure for efiecting good electric spot welds. Electric current is supplied through lines 22 and 55 leading to the arms 15 and I! to effect welds between the electrodes of each of the welding guns in a manner well known to those iamiliar with the art.

The support casing ll of the carriage 31 has fixed thereto by bolts 5| an indexing and driving mechanism casing 92 having a pipe supporting extension 23. A cover 24 is detachably secured by bolts 55 to the casing 22. Within the casing 22 a splined end shaft II is journaledby bearings 81 and llmountedon the casingfland cover 04 respectively. A Geneva gear 00 is keyed at I00 to the shaft 00.

Extending through the casing 02 is a driving shaft IOI having splines I02 and a reduced threaded end portion I02, the shaft IOI being mounted on bearings I04 and I00 carried by the casing 02 and cover 04 respectively. The shaft IOI has non-rotatably secured thereto by keys I00 a Geneva pinion I01 which is adapted to rotate the Geneva gear 00 so that the carriage 21 will move along the trackway 25 and automatically stop before each weld is eflected and then start, as will presently be moreevident. A ball bearing thrust member I08 is mounted on the hub of the pinion I01, and a gear I00 having a hub IIO with nibs III is non-rotatably interposed on the shaft IOI between the bearings I03 and I00. On the splined end I02 of the shaft IOI is an internally splined sleeve I I2 having a flange H2 and recesses II4 which register with the nibs III of the gear I00. A coil spring H0 is interposed between the flange II2 and a washer IIIE adjustably held on the reduced threaded end portion I03 by lock nuts H1. The nibs III and recesses II4 function as a'slip clutch to allow the gear I08 to rotate relative to the shaft IOI in an emergency so as to protect the prime mover and welding apparatus during failure or jamming of the mechanism. A tubular end cover H0 is detachably secured to the casing cover 04 to house this slip clutch mechanism.

The other end of the shaft IOI has keyed thereto at H0 9. sprocket chain gear I20 and a distributor mechanism I2I having a hub I22 and a pair of off-set cams I22 and I24 with adjustment slots I 22'. into each of which an adjustment member I24 extends. A suitable prime mover, such as the electric motor I20 is bolted at I20 to the casing 92 and has a shaft I21 to which a worm gear I28 is non-rotatably secured and in constant mesh with the-gear I00.

A pair of brackets I20 are fixed to the casing 40 and are reinforced by a strut I20 to which is secured electric insulators I2I for supporting the electric lines 80 and 00. Drivinglycoupledat I22 to each of the opposite ends of shaft 90, as illustrated, is a shaft extension I20 which is journaled by bearings I24 mounted on the brackets I20. A drive pinion I20 is drivlngly secured to the outer end of each of the shaft extensions I22 in engagement with the rack portion 24.

A T-shaped bracket I20 is provided to move thecarriage 21 upright and substantially tangent to the successive longitudinally misaligned portions of the rack portion 24. The bracket I20 comprises an open slot I21, an elongated closed slotI20 and an electric switch actuating member I20. The lower slot I20 of the bracket I20 receives a bearing I40 mounted on each of the brackets I20 to effect relative movement between the brackets I20 and I20. Flanged rollers I are rotatably mounted on each end of the long portion of the T-shaped bracket I20 and are adapted to ride on a flat portion of-the rack portion 24. A floating roller I42 (best shown in Figs. 5 and i2) is journaled by a bearing I42 on the shaft extensions I22. A bearing I44 is mounted on each of the shaft extensions I22 in the slot I21 of the bracket I20 and between the bearings I42 and I24. The end rollers I of the bracket I20 are permitted to follow the successive longitudinally misaligned portions of the rack 24 by "reason of the slots I21 and I20 accommodating this movement.

A valve casing I40 is mounted on the other face of the casing 02 and rotatably mounts a chain drive pinion I40 keyed to a shaft I41 (best shown in Figs. 6 and '1). The pinion I40 and the sprocket I20 are drivingly connected by a block chain I48. The casing comprises a tubular portion I40 within which the shaft I41 extends in leak-proof engagement, and further comprises a detachably secured cover I50 having apertures IOI, I02 and I03. The apertures I5I and I52 receive the fluid pressure lines 88 and 01 respectively which are supported by the extension 93 and communicate with the cylinder 84 of the welding guns 00 .and 00, the aperture I52 being open to the atmosphere for exhausting the air pressure within'the casing I45. Airis admitted to the casing. I45 through an air line I54 communicating with a suitable source of air pressure. A rotatable pressure valve I55, rotatable at twice the speed of the pinion I01, is drlvingly carried by the end of the shaft I41 within the casing I45 and comprises arcuate passages I50 and I51, a branch passage I50 and a tubular passage I59 )which in its illustrated position communicates between the air pressure chamber of the casing I40 and the arcuate passage I50. During rotation of the valve I55 the air pressure alternately is admitted through the passages I00, I50 and the line 88 while the air pressure within the line 81 is exhausted through the passages I51 and I58 and then admitted through the passages I58, I00 and the line 81 while the air pressure within the line 00 is exhausted through the passages I51 and I50.

A welding gun shifting mechanism, generally indicated by the numeral I00, is provided adjacent one end of the trackway 35 to provide a control with which the operator can move the welding guns toward each other to facilitateloading and unloading of the vehicle body members to be welded. Since the support and control mechanisms for the guns 08 and 00 .are identical, that for the gun 00 will be described as the representative one. A slidable plate IOI is supported on the base structure 20 and is adapted to slide transversely to the course pursued by the carriage 21. A gib structure I02 is in retaining contact with the plate IOI and is adapted to be adjusted by screws I00 extending through a flange of the base structure 20. An open end recess I04 is formed on the plate IOI and normally registers with the lower portion of the trackway 20 to facilitate moving the casing. 40 and welding guns entirely off the trackway 20 and onto the plate IOI. A rack I05 is fixed to the under side of the plate IOI by fasteners I00. Overlapping the rack I80 is a plate I01 which is detachably secured at I00 to the base structure 20'. A pinion I00'Imeshing with the rack I00, is rotatably supported on the plate I01 and has nonrotatably secured thereto a control arm I00. The plates IOI may be shifted toward each other by swinging the arm I00 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 9, when the guide block 40 engages in the recess I04. so as to move the welding guns inwardly from their illustrated positions to facilitate unloading or loading of the vehicle body members.

A safety lock, generally designated by the numeral I10, is provided to simultaneously interrupt .the electric current to the motor I25 and permit the plates IOI which support the guns when they are at the rear end of their stroke to be moved toward each other-to facilitate loading and unloading of the vehicle body members.

- the bearing The safety lock I18 comprises a lever arm "I pivotally mounted atl12 on the plate I". A rod I18 is slidably mounted on the plate I5I in operative engagement at I18 with the lever arm HI and has formed thereon a nib I15 and a reduced end portion I15. The end portion I15 is normally yieldingly urged by a spring I11 into locking engagement with a slot I18 formed on the stationary structure I82 to prevent movement of.

the plates I8I relative to the base structure 28. An electrical switch I18 carried by the base structure 28 has a spring-urged contact member I88 engageable with the nib I15 as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 15, so as to interrupt the electric current to the motor I25 when the reduced end portion I18 is out of engagement with the slot I18. when the lever arm IN is moved counterclockwisely as viewed in Fig. 9, the reduced end portion engages the slot I18 to preventrelative movement between the plates I8I and the base structure 28, and the nib I15 is moved out of engagement with the contact member I88 to close the switch I18 which controls the current to the motor I25. Thus the motor I25 is operative only when the groove I88 of the plate I5l is aligned with the channel 35 of the track-way.

An electrical reversing switch I 8| (best shown in Figs. 1 and 12) is mounted on the base structure 28 adjacent the forward extremity of the rack 88 to be actuated by the actuating member I88 so as to automatically reverse the direction of rotation of the motor I25. Another reversing switch I82 is mounted on the base structure adjacent the rearward extremity of the rack 88 to be actuated by an actuating member I 88 carried by the bracket I88 when the carriage 81 returns to its original starting position so as to automatically reverse the direction of rotation of the motor I25. As the motor I25 drives the pinion I85 the carriage 81 automatically moves forwardly until it strikes the switch I8I whereupon the motor is reversed and the carriage is returned to its original starting position where the switch I82 is closed to reverse the motor again. The switch I82 is so located on the base structure 28 that the bearing 88 will strike the safety lock arm "I, as shown in Fig. 16, so that the reversing switch I82 will be actuated Just before the bearing 88 strikes the arm I1I. This arrangement of the switch I82 and the safety lock arm "I automatically reverse the direction of rotation of the motor I25 just prior to the cutting off of the current to the entire apparatus by engagement of 88 with the arm I1I, so as to automatically condition the apparatus to move the carriage 81 forwardly again when new work is loaded on the apparatus and the lever IN is manually reset.

To yieldingly return the heavy carriage 81 to its original starting position, a cushioning device I88 is employed. The device I 88 (best shown in Figs. 1, 10 and 11) comprises an arm I85 pivotally mounted at I 88 on the base structure 28 and adapted to swing between an adjustable stop I 81 and a position indicated at I88. A yoke member I88 is non-rotatably secured to the lower end of the arm I85 and has pivotally connected at its free end I88 a piston member I8I which is yieldingly opposed by a spring I82 disposed in a casing I88 mounted on the base structure 28. When the arm 'I85 has moved to the position I88 further movement of the arm I85 is prevented by the rollers I which contact with the end of the rack 88.

An'openendcasing I88,showninPigx.8,12,

13 and 16, is carried by each of the plates III for each of the welding guns 88 and 58. A piston I85 is yieldingly urged by a spring I88 within the casing I88 to its open end, and has a threaded piston rod I88 which extends through the closed end of the casing to receive adjustment lock nuts I 88 for varying the pressure exerted by the spring I85 on the piston I85. A similar spring and piston mechanism 288 is mounted on the base structure 28 near the front extremity of the rack 88 for each of the welding guns 88 and 58. Each of the front and rear casings I88 are so constructed and arranged'that the end portions 58 and 88 of one of the rails 58 will register with the open ends of the rear and front casings I88 respectively preferably at the same time that the reversing switches I8I and I82 are actuated during the travel of the carriage 81.

The front and rear mechanisms comprising pistons I85 are adapted to automatically control the setting of the guns on the carriage 81 so as to produce a series of uniformly spaced spot welds during one direction of movement of the carriage, and a second series of spot welds during reverse movement of the carriage, the second series of spot welds being located intermediate adjacent spot welds of the first series. That is, if the first series of spot welds are 2" apart, the return series would be intermediate the former series so as to effect a resulting new series of spot welds 1" apart.

Adjustable stops 28I and 282, shown in Figs. 9 and 14, are mounted on the casing I88 and the base structure 28 and are so arranged with respect to the rails 5I and 58 that during movement of the carriage 81 to its forward position the rail 5| strikes the forward stop 282, causing the rail to move rearwardly so that the groove 82 and rearward portion of the recess 52 are aligned and the detents 81, shown in Fig. 4, register with the recesses 58. During continued travel of the carriage 81 forwardly, the reduced end portions 58 of the rails 58 strike the pistons I85 of the forward yieldable mechanisms 288, and the groove 8| and the forward portion of the reoess 52 are aligned to permit the detents 55 to engage in the recess 52. During further movement of the carriage forwardly, the rail 58 is held against forward movement by the yieldable member I85 and the rail 5I is positively held against forward movement by the stop 282. This causes the carriage to move forwardly relative to the rail 5| sufficiently to bring the recess 52 out of registration with the detents 85, thereby locking the rail 58 and gun in a reset position. A similar action takes place at the end of the rearward movement by which the rail 58 and gun carried thereby are returned to their original forward travel position.

Electrical transformers 288 and 288 are mounted on the base structure and are adapted to supply an electric current to the welding gun lines 88 and 88 of the welding guns 58 and 58. The transformers 288 and 288 are preferably electrically arranged in parallel and adapted to supply an electrical current of high amperage and low voltage'suitable for electric resistance welding in a manner well known to those familiar with the art.

Electric relay switches 285 and 285 are mounted on brackets 281 fixed to the casing 82. The switches 285 and 285 comprise in elongated slot 288 is adapted to be yieldingly urged outwardly, the roller of the switches 285 and 285 being adapted within which an axially mounted roller 288.

to be moved inwardly by the cams I23 and I24 respectively during rotation of the gear I09. These cams I23 and I24 simultaneously close the switches 205 and 206 to cause the electrical current from the transformers to pass to the welding guns for effecting two welds simultaneously.

In the electrical system diagram shown in Fig. 17, a suitable alternating current is supplied through line 2I0 and 2 from a suitable source (not shown). A suitable electrical master switch 2I2 is electrically interposed between the line 2 I and the safety switch I19. The safety switch I19 electrically controls a line 2 I3 leading to both of the transformers 203 and 204. A conductor 2I4 connects the line 2I3 with each of the cam actuated switches 205 and 206 which simultaneously electrically connect leads 2I5 and 2I6 respectively in response to the revolving of the cams I23 and I24. Relay switches 2I1 and 2I8 have connected thereto the leads 2I5 and 2I8 respectively, and also haveleads 2I9 connected with the line 2| I. Electrical contact members 220 of the relay switches are adapted to contact leads 22I connected to the transformers 203 and 204 in response to current being passed through the relays 2I1 and 2I8 from the cam actuated switches 205 and 205.

When the contacts 220 and HI are closed, the transformers 203 and 204 receive the primary current from the lines 2I0 and 2H and convert it into suitable electric current of low voltage and high amperage suitable for the welding guns 08 and 69. The-relays 2H and 2I8 are preferably of the type for use in electrical circuits for welding apparatus and are adapted to close the contacts 220 and 22I for a predetermined period depending on the nature of the weld desired. Any suitable time switch mechanism. (not shown) adapted to properly predetermine the length of the welding period may be employed.

The motor I25 illustrated is of the well known A. C. reversing type having an electric terminal box 222 which is electrically connected by lines 223 and 224 with the lines 2I I and 2I0 respectively. The motor further comprises a reverse mechanism 225 which is adapted to reverse the direction of drive of the motor I25 in response to closing of one of the reversing switches I8I and I82 which are electrically connected with the mechanism 225 by lines 226 and 221 respectively. A line 228 electrically connects the mechanism 225 and the line 2I3 to complete the circuit.

With reference to the operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention, when the welding apparatus operator desires to simultaneously weld the drip moulding equipped roof and side members 2|, 22 and 23, respectively, he clamps these body members on the base structure 20. To facilitate the loading of the body members, the arms I89 should be swung clockwisely, as viewed in Fig. 9, to move the guns 58 and 59 toward each other subsequently to the safety lock arm "I being swung in a clockwise direction to its illustrated position of Fig. 9 by the guide block 45 striking the safety lock arm "I.

After the body members are loaded, fluid pressure, preferably air, is admitted into the line I84 and the arm I39 is swung counterclockwisely to bring the guns into welding receiving relationship with the body members, and the latch I18.

snapped by the spring I11 into locking engagement with the slot I18. The master switch 2I2 is then. closed and an electric current passes through the safety switch I18 to the lead box 222 of the motor to operate the motor I25 for moving the carriage 31 forwardly by operation of the pinion I35 and the racks 34. The Geneva gear 99, through which this drive is transmitted to the pinion I35, automatically stops and starts the carriage 31 at predetermined spaced series of welding positions in its travel forwardly.

With the closing of the master switch M2, the electric current also passes to the relay switches 205 and 205, the cams I23 and I24 being revolved by the ,motor I25 to periodically close the relay switches to actuate the relays 2I1' and 2I8 for controlling the electric current supplied by the transformers 203 and 204 to the welding guns. The electric current is periodically admitted to the welding guns so that the welds will be automatically effected at each of the predetermined spaced welding positions at which the carriage 31 stops during both its travel forwardly and rearwardly. During the revolving of the cams I23 and I24, the valve I55 rotates in synchronism so as to automatically admit and exhaust alternately the air pressure to the lines 81 and 88 communicating with the cylinders 84 to clamp and unclamp the welding gun electrodes 14 and 18 just prior and subsequently respectively to the admittance of welding current to the electrodes when the carriage 31 is stopped at each of the aforesaid predetermined positions. In this unique sequence of automatic operation, the carriage 31 is stopped at a predetermined point; the electrodes 14 and 18 clamp the work, electric current is admitted to the electrodes to effect the weld; the electrodes are unclamped;-and the oarv riage moves to the next predetermined point.

As the carriage approaches the forward extremity of its travel on the rack 34, the rails 58 and 59 strike the stops 200 and 202 respectively and the welding guns are automatically indexed so as to effect a weld intermediate each of the welds previously formed. At the extremity of travel of the carriage 31 forwardly, the actuating portion I39 closes the reversing switch which actuates the motor reversing mechanism for reversing the direction of drive of the motor I25. During the travel of the carriage 31 rearwardly, the switch I8I is opened and the welds are automatically effected intermediate each of the welds effected during the forward movement of the carriage, and the sequence of welding operation ,is the same.

During the latter portion of the travel of the carriage, the rails 58 and 59 strike the rear stops I95 and 20I respectively and the welding guns are automatically indexed so as to stop at the same points when the old work is unloaded and the new work is loaded as it did on its initial trip. As the rails 58 and 59 index the carriage safety lock arm opens the switch I19 and unlatches the reduced portion I13.

The operator then swings the arm I89 clockwisely, as viewed in Fig. 9, to facilitate the unloading of the welded vehicle body by moving the welding guns apart. The welding apparatus is then ready to receive new work which is then handled in the same manner as set forthin the foregoing operation.

The sequence of operation of the apparatus of automatically welding the work first at a predetermined series of points and then welding intermediate each of these welds is highly desirable inasmuch as the welding heat is localized and cools suiliciently to prevent distortion before the intermediately spaced welds are effected.

The paths of movement of the guns can be predetermined by suitably constructing the track mechanism on which the carriage is mounted and the track mechanism by which the guns are moved inwardly and outwardly, in order to cause the movement of the guns to conform to the curvature and shape of the work operated upon. In welding automobile bodies, welds may be formed continuously from the front to the rear of the panel structure thereof even though these panel structures vary in curvature in two planes.

In the operation of the welding apparatus, the operator need not be skilled inasmuch as it is purely automatic and fast. The welds produced along the successive longitudinally misaligned portions of the body members by the apparatus are automatic and are not left to the discretion of the operator, thus effecting uniform and efilcient welds.

Various modifications and changes will be readily apparent from the teachings of our invention, as set forth in the appended claims, and it is not our intention to limit our invention to the particular details of construction and operation shown and described for illustrative purposes.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for permanently uniting members having aligned surface portions comprising a frame support, a member bonding device adjustably mounted on said support, a support for said members to be bonded, said supports being relatively movable for bringing successive adjacent portions of said members into bond receiving relationship with said device, means for producing intermittent movements of said device relative to said members in one direction to bring said members and said device into bond forming relationship at successive spaced points on said members, and means for reversing the direction of said intermittent movements of and adapted to bring the latter said members and said device into bond forming relationship at points on said members intermediate said first series of points.

2. Apparatus for permanently uniting members having aligned surface portions comprising a frame support, a member bonding device adjustably mounted on said support, a support for said members to be bonded, said supports being relatively movable for bringing successive adjacent portions of said members into bond receiving relationship with said device, and means including a Geneva gear for first moving said device in one directioninto bond receiving relationship at successive points on said members and reversing said movement of said device to bring said device into bond engagement with said members at points intermediate each of said first series of points.

3. Apparatus for permanently uniting members having registering laterally and longitudinally misaligned successive adjacent surface portions comprising a frame support, a member bonding device adjustably mounted on said support, a support for said members to be bonded, said supports being relatively movable for bringing successive adjacent portions of said members into bond receiving relationship with said device, and means including guide mechanism mounted on said frame and elements carried by said device coacting therewith for automatically adjusting said device in two directions transverse to each other during said relative movement of said supports, said guide mechanism being so constructed and arranged as to confine said device to a course defined by a series of points on said laterally and longitudinally misaligned successive adjacent surface portions, and means for intermittently arresting said movements and actuating said device at each of said points.

4. Apparatus for permanently uniting members having registering misaligned successive adjacent surface portions comprising a frame support, a member bonding device mounted on said support, a support for said members to be bonded, said supports being relatively movable in two directions transverse to each other for bringing successive adjacent misaligned portions of said members into bond receiving relationship with said device, and means for automatically succesaively moving said device into bond receiving relationship with a series of misaligned points on said misaligned successively adjacent surface portions and then returning said device to its original starting position.

5. Apparatus for welding members having aligned surface portions comprising a base support, a welding gun carrying carriage mounted on said base support and adapted to reciprocate thereon through a predetermined course, an adjustable welding gun mounted on said carriage, means for automatically moving said carriage to bring said gun into welding receiving relationship at a predetermined series of points with said aligned portions of said members to be welded and then returning said carriage to its original starting position, and means for automatically braking the movement of said carriage just prior to its reaching its original starting position.

8. Apparatus for simultaneously welding the roof and side members of a vehicle body having successively adjacent surface por tions misaligned laterally and longitudinally of said body comprising a frame support, welding guns adjustably mounted on said support, a support for said body members, said supports being relatively movable laterally and-longitudinally of said body for bringing successive adjacent portions of said members into welding receiving relationship to said guns, means for simultaneously admitting an electrical current to said guns, and means for. automatically adjusting each of said guns toward and away from said misaligned successively adjacent surface portions for maintaining said guns at a substantially uniform distance from said surface portions as said guns are brought into welding receiving relationship with said successive surface portions.

7. In a welding apparatus, a support structure having means for positioning work to be operated on, a track extending mainly in the direction of the length of said frame structure having curvilinear portions, a carriage structure mounted on said track and movable lengthwise thereof and in one direction transverse of "said frame structure, welding means carried by said carriage structure and movable relative thereto in a course transversely of the directions of movement of said carriage, guide mechanism including ccacting members on said support structure and carriage having means for positioning work to be operated respectively for shifting the latter in said course in response and in timed relation to movement or said carriage on said track, and means for intermittently moving said welding means relative to said support structure and work.

8. In a welding apparatus, a support structure on, a track on said support structure extending in a curvilinear course in a plane disposed mainly lengthwise of the latter, a carriage structure mounted on said track and movable in said course, welding means carried by said carriage structure and movable relative thereto transversely of said plane, mechanism including coacting members on said support structure and carriage respectively responsive to said movement of said carriage in said curvilinear course for moving said welding means transversely of said plane in timed relation to movement thereof in said course and adapted to compensate for variations in the width of the work operated on by said welding means, said mechanism including a cam track extending longitudinally of said support structure and contacting with said welding means, said cam track including a wall portion having a contour corresponding to the contour of the work operated on by said welding means, means drivingly operating upon said carriage for producing intermittent movement thereof in said course, and apparatus for automatically actuating said welding means between successive steps of said intermittent movement.

9. In a welding apparatus, a support structure having means for positioning work to be operated on, a carriage structure mounted on said support structure and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, intermittently operable welding means mounted on said carriage structure, mechanism for intermittently moving said carriage structure and said welding means relative to said work, and means for effecting intermittent operation of said welding means in timed relation to intermittent movement of said carriage structure.

10. In a welding apparatus, a support structure having means for positioning pieces of work to be welded together, a carriage mounted on said support structure and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, intermittently operable welding means carried by said carriage, mechanism for intermittently moving said carriage relative to said support to position said welding means at successively spaced locations on said work, and means for automatically operating said welding means when said carriage is disposed at each of said locations.

11. In a welding apparatus, a support structure having means for positioning pieces of work to be welded together, a carriage mounted on said support structure and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, intermittently operable welding means carried by said carriage, means carried by said carriage for intermittently operating said welding means to clamp said pieces of work into welding receiving relationship, mechanism for intermittently moving said carriage relative to said support to position said welding means at successively spaced locations on said work, and means for automatically operating said welding means when said carriage is disposed at each of said locations.

12. In a welding apparatus, a support structure having means for positioning pieces of work to be welded together, a carriage mounted on said support. structure and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, intermittently operable welding means carried by said carriage adapted to clamp said pieces of work together, mechanism for intermittently moving said carriage relative to said support to position said welding means at successively spaced locations on said work,,

means for automatically operating said welding means when said carriage is disposed at each of said locations to clamp said pieces of work together, and means for automatically energizing said welding means thereafter when said carriage is disposed at each of said locations for producing a weld.

13. In a welding apparatus, a support structure having means for positioning pieces of work to be welded together, a carriage mounted on said support structure and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, intermittently operable welding means shiftably carried by said carriage, mechanism for intermittently moving said carriage and welding means relative to said support to position said welding means at successively spaced locations on said work, means for automatically operating said welding means when said carriage is disposed at rest at each of said locations, and means for shifting said welding means relative to said support and said work.

14. In a welding apparatus, a support structure having means for positioning pieces of work to beoperated on, clamping means operable on said pieces of work, a carriage mounted on said support structure and movable relative thereto, welding means carried by said carriage including jaw members adapted for intermittently clamping said pieces of work together, means for intermittently moving said carriage and welding means relative to said work, and means for effecting intermittent operation of said jaws and effecting a weld in predetermined time relation with respect to each other and with respect to said intermittentmovement of said carriage.

15. In a welding apparatus, a support having means for positioning pieces of work to be welded together, a carriage movably mounted on said support, means for confining movement of said carriage to a course of travel extending along the junction of said pieces of work, intermittently operable welding means shiftably mounted on said carriage for movement relative thereto in the direction of its course oi travel, driving mechanism for intermittently moving said carriage and said welding means in unison progressively to spaced locations with respect to said work, means for automatically operating said welding means while said carriage is at rest at said locations between successive intermittent movements thereof, means for reversing the direction of movement of said carriage and welding means when the former reaches a predetermined.

ture having means for positioning pieces of work to be operated on, a carriage mounted on said structure and movable relative to the latter and said work, welding means carried by said carriage, mechanism for intermittently moving said carriage and welding means, means operable in timed relation with movement of said carriage and welding means for causing the latter to efi'ect welding operations at spaced locations on on said work at locations intermediate said first said work, means for reversing the direction of mentioned locations when said carriage and movement of said carriage and welding means welding means are moved in the reversed direcwith respect to said support structure and work, tion.

and means for efl'ecting relative movement be- ALEXANDER M. FLEMING. 6 tween said work and said welding means for con- ANTONIO B. CANALES. ditioning the latter to eflect welding operations 

